Welcome to SCRIPT the automated tool for the Public Health risk prioritisation of industrial Chemicals that present a risk when accidentally or deliberately released into the atmosphere.
This innovative tool is supported and developed in conjunction with the Chemical Events Working Group of the Global Health Security Initiative,
WHO-Collaborating Centre for Chemical Incidents and Cardiff Metropolitan University.
How does it work?
The methodology behind SCRIPT is explained in full
here, but in summary the tool assesses risks to public health from airborne release of chemicals into the environment, based upon the equation:
Risk = severity of effect x likelihood of exposure
Severity is determined as the main hazard posed by a chemical (toxicity, flammability, reactivity). Likelihood assesses the potential for exposure via inhalation using proxy indicators of quantity stored and vapour pressure (i.e. how likely it is to form a gas) based upon publicly available from authoritative sources.
What SCRIPT does and does not do?
Public health practitioners and planners can use the screening tool to assist them in directing their activities, enabling users to rapidly screen chemicals within their facility or region providing a ranking based upon their harmful effects and likelihood of release (based upon global availability classifications and peer reviewed chemical toxicity and behaviour characteristics).
The tool does not provide an assessment of absolute risk if a release occurs but instead provides a comparison of the relative risk between the chemicals under assessment. Those of highest priority can then be selected for further detailed assessment enabling focussed and risk base d management.
Similar approaches have been used in other applications such as the
ARCOPOL Prioritisation methodology used for maritime transportation of hazardous and noxious substances.
How to use SCRIPT
The tool has been developed for use by non-specialists and contains a database of commonly used industrial chemicals. Chemicals relevant to the facility or region under assessment can be selected from this list (or added by the user) and a comparative assessment undertaken. A user guide and video tutorial showing how to undertake an assessment are available here.
Download SCRIPT
Click here to download the tool.
The tool runs on java, which needs to be installed prior to download. The tool will run on MAC and PC.
Click here to view the tutorial video
Step by Step guide to using SCRIPT
- Installation.
Download zip file. Extract all files onto desk top (if you put them into a new folder ensure all files are together). Click the Java icon to open the tool. The software runs on java 6 or higher.
- Use Search function to identify chemical from database (name or CAS number)
- Click on chemical to select for prioritisation
- Adjust chemical parameters
Note: Chemical hazard is inherent i.e. does not change and so the only parameter that should be adjusted is the availability drop down depending upon facility / regional parameters (see methodology)
- Repeat for further chemicals
- If chemical is not on database then add new chemical as follows
- Click add new chemical tab
- Complete data fields as per methodology and sources provided here (Link to step by step guide slide 3)
- Save to database
- Add to prioritisation as steps 1-3
- Chemicals will be ranked in order of risk (highest to lowest)
- Print Report will present the assessment in tabular and graphical formats
- Export assessment to excel allows the assessment to be saved
- Import allows saved prioritisations to be loaded and amended
Further detailed site specific risk assessment and management can be undertaken on priority chemicals. Information on approaches can be found in the
Teaching and Training section.
Adding Chemicals to the Database
Feedback Form
Please
click here to complete the SCRIPT feedback form.
